Maitum, Sarangani
Encyclopedia
Maitum is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Sarangani, Philippines
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 37,054 people in 7,640 households.
It is bordered on the west by the province of Sultan Kudarat, on the east by the municipality of Kiamba
, on the north by the province of South Cotabato
, and on the south by the Celebes Sea
.
According to the last general election
s, it has a total voting population of 18,953 voters.
Website : http://www.maitum.gov.ph
Facebook Page : http://www.facebook.com/maitum.sarangani
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/maitumsarangani
s.
According to local folklore, "Maitum" refers to the black stones in Saub River. It is believed that the river stones turned black when the local native princess and her warrior lover passed through it as they eloped and escaped from the wrath of the princess' father who disapproved their marriage. "Maitum" is a native word meaning black.
In 1928, Maitum became part of the municipality of Kiamba
. It became a separate municipality on May 7, 1959 through Republic Act No. 2189.
origin. One of the indigenous peoples living in mountainous areas of Maitum is known as T'boli. The annual Binuyugan Festival is celebrated in May.
Internationally, Maitum is known for the discovery of very old cave artifacts called Maitum Anthropomorphic Potteries
in one of the caves nearby. Ancient burial
jars were discovered by archaeologists from the National Museum
in Ayub Cave, Maitum, in 1991 and in 2008, at Sagel Cave, Maitum (now declared by National Historical Institute as a national historical sites). Amid Mindanao
's armed conflicts, artifacts
found thereat prove settlements of pre-historic civilization in Maitum.
. Aqua-culture is the second biggest income earner, notably the culture of milkfish
(bangus), prawn
s (particularly giant prawns) and shrimp
s for export. Other agricultural products are coconut
s, maize
, sugarcane
, banana
s, pineapple
s, mango
es, pork
, eggs
, beef
, and fish
. Maitum is also a food basket nationally famous for its dried fish.
The economy has accelerated in the past decade driven by advances in global communication technology and the finishing of a modern highway that tremendously improved trade and transport.
Tarsiers
have been discovered in Maitum's mountainous areas.
Caves and the rainforest of Maitum are the natural habitat of a rare fruit bat
species called Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox
(Acedoron jubatus), also known as "silent planter," since it contributes greatly to forest regeneration, because of eating lots of fruits and their seeds. The rare Writhed-billed Hornbill
and Tarictic Hornbill
are also found in the surrounding rainforest. The Philippine Eagle
(a monkey
-eating eagle
) also thrives in the area.
The endangered Hawksbill Turtles
have their nesting grounds in Maitum's former main village called "Old Poblacion".
Other wild animals are wild boar, deer
, monkeys, and various species of snake
.
Sea turtles or pawikan can also be found in Maitum, Sarangani specifically at the Pawikan Nesting Sanctuary founded in 2003.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. According to the latest census, it has a population of 37,054 people in 7,640 households.
It is bordered on the west by the province of Sultan Kudarat, on the east by the municipality of Kiamba
Kiamba, Sarangani
thumb|Sea Foods, the second biggest income earner.Kiamba is a 2nd class municipality established 1947, in the province of Sarangani, Philippines...
, on the north by the province of South Cotabato
South Cotabato
South Cotabato is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Koronadal City, and it borders Sultan Kudarat to the north and west, Sarangani to the south and east, and Davao del Sur to the east...
, and on the south by the Celebes Sea
Celebes Sea
The Celebes Sea of the western Pacific Ocean is bordered on the north by the Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea and Mindanao Island of the Philippines, on the east by the Sangihe Islands chain, on the south by Sulawesi, and on the west by Kalimantan in Indonesia...
.
According to the last general election
Philippine general election, 2007
Legislative and local elections were held in the Philippines on May 14, 2007. Positions contested included half the seats in the Senate, which are elected for six-year terms, and all the seats in the House of Representatives, who were elected for three-year terms...
s, it has a total voting population of 18,953 voters.
Online Presence
You can follow news updates on this websites:Website : http://www.maitum.gov.ph
Facebook Page : http://www.facebook.com/maitum.sarangani
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/maitumsarangani
Barangays
Maitum is politically subdivided into 19 barangayBarangay
A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...
s.
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History
In 1928, Maitum became part of the municipality of Kiamba
Kiamba, Sarangani
thumb|Sea Foods, the second biggest income earner.Kiamba is a 2nd class municipality established 1947, in the province of Sarangani, Philippines...
. It became a separate municipality on May 7, 1959 through Republic Act No. 2189.
People and culture
The majority of the population are of IlocanoIlocano people
The Ilocano or Ilokano people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. Aside from being referred to as Ilocanos, from "i"-from, and "looc"-bay, they also refer to themselves as Samtoy, from the Ilocano phrase "sao mi ditoy", meaning 'our language here.' The word "Ilocano" came from...
origin. One of the indigenous peoples living in mountainous areas of Maitum is known as T'boli. The annual Binuyugan Festival is celebrated in May.
Internationally, Maitum is known for the discovery of very old cave artifacts called Maitum Anthropomorphic Potteries
Maitum Anthropomorphic Potteries
]In 1991, archeologists discovered anthropomorphic secondary burial jars in Ayub Cave, Piñol. Maitum, Sarangani Province, in Mindanao, Philippines. Since this sensational finding, a number of archaeological excavations were conducted to recover these important artifacts...
in one of the caves nearby. Ancient burial
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
jars were discovered by archaeologists from the National Museum
National museum
A national museum is a museum maintained by a nation.The following is a list of national museums:-Australia:*Australian National Aviation Museum*Australian National Maritime Museum*, Sydney*Australian War Memorial*Museum Victoria...
in Ayub Cave, Maitum, in 1991 and in 2008, at Sagel Cave, Maitum (now declared by National Historical Institute as a national historical sites). Amid Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
's armed conflicts, artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
found thereat prove settlements of pre-historic civilization in Maitum.
Economy
The economy of Maitum is largely based on agriculture and is often called the "rice-granary" of Sarangani due to its high level production of riceRice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
. Aqua-culture is the second biggest income earner, notably the culture of milkfish
Milkfish
The milkfish is the sole living species in the family Chanidae. - Description and biology :...
(bangus), prawn
Prawn
Prawns are decapod crustaceans of the sub-order Dendrobranchiata. There are 540 extant species, in seven families, and a fossil record extending back to the Devonian...
s (particularly giant prawns) and shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
s for export. Other agricultural products are coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
s, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
, banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s, pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
s, mango
Mango
The mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
es, pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
, eggs
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
, beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
, and fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
. Maitum is also a food basket nationally famous for its dried fish.
The economy has accelerated in the past decade driven by advances in global communication technology and the finishing of a modern highway that tremendously improved trade and transport.
Wildlife
Philippine Tarsier
The Philippine Tarsier , known locally as the Kupal in Cebuano/Visayan and Mamag in Luzon, is an endangered species of tarsier endemic to the Philippines. It is found in the southeastern part of the archipelago, particularly in the islands of Bohol, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao...
have been discovered in Maitum's mountainous areas.
Caves and the rainforest of Maitum are the natural habitat of a rare fruit bat
Fruit Bat
Fruit Bat can refer to:* Megabats, a species of bat which eats fruit* Les "Fruitbat" Carter, guitarist of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine* Fruit Bats , an American band...
species called Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox
Giant golden-crowned flying fox
The Giant golden-crowned flying fox , also known as the Golden-capped fruit bat, is a rare megabat and considered the largest known bat in the world. The species is endangered and is currently facing the possibility of extinction because of poaching and forest destruction...
(Acedoron jubatus), also known as "silent planter," since it contributes greatly to forest regeneration, because of eating lots of fruits and their seeds. The rare Writhed-billed Hornbill
Writhed-billed Hornbill
The Walden's Hornbill , also known as the Visayan Wrinkled Hornbill, Rufous-headed Hornbill or Writhed-billed Hornbill, is a critically endangered species of hornbill living in the rainforests on the islands of Negros and Panay in the Philippines...
and Tarictic Hornbill
Mindanao Tarictic Hornbill
The Mindanao Hornbill , sometimes called Mindanao Tarictic Hornbill, is a medium-small species of hornbill found in the canopy of rainforests on Mindanao, Dinagat, Siargao and Basilan in the southern Philippines. As is the case with all Philippine tarictic hornbills, it has been considered a...
are also found in the surrounding rainforest. The Philippine Eagle
Philippine Eagle
The Philippine Eagle , also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle, is an eagle of the family Accipitridae that is endemic to forests in the Philippines. It has brown and white-coloured plumage, and a shaggy crest, and generally measures in length and weighs...
(a monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
-eating eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
) also thrives in the area.
The endangered Hawksbill Turtles
Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E...
have their nesting grounds in Maitum's former main village called "Old Poblacion".
Other wild animals are wild boar, deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, monkeys, and various species of snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
.
Sea turtles or pawikan can also be found in Maitum, Sarangani specifically at the Pawikan Nesting Sanctuary founded in 2003.